The adverb figuratively
describes something symbolic, not actual
. If a friend invites you to tonight’s concert but you already have plans with your family, you might say — figuratively — that your hands are tied.
How can you use figuratively in a sentence?
- His face turned as red as a beet, figuratively speaking of course.
- Don’t be scared! When I said I wanted to kill you I was speaking figuratively. What I literally meant was that I was very angry at you. That’s all.
What does it mean when you say figuratively?
: in a figurative way: such as. a : with a meaning that is
metaphorical rather than literal Speaking
of panic, I recently ran into (figuratively, not literally) a friend who was ranting about giant “bees” digging holes in his lawn.—
What’s the difference between figuratively and?
Figuratively is an adverb of the adjective figurative that means “of the nature of or involving a figure of speech.” It’s typically
metaphorical
and not literal, which is a key difference in common usage between figuratively and literally.
Is figuratively the same as metaphorically?
Figuratively means metaphorically
, and literally describes something that actually happened. If you say that a guitar solo literally blew your head off, your head should not be attached to your body.
What are some examples of literal and figurative language?
Literal: it means what it says
. The sky is full of dancing stars. Figurative: the sky seems to have very many twinkling stars in it, so many that they look like they are moving around using dance motions. The darkness surrounded them with a cold embrace.
Can literally mean figuratively?
Literally means ‘
figuratively
. ‘ Like it or not, that’s the way it is in English, and despite the recent uproar on Reddit and Buzzfeed over dictionaries recognizing the usage, it’s not new—literally has always been figurative.
What are 5 examples of figurative language?
- Simile. …
- Metaphor. …
- Implied metaphor. …
- Personification. …
- Hyperbole. …
- Allusion. …
- Idiom. …
- Pun.
What is a type of figurative language?
Any time your writing goes beyond the actual meanings of your words, you’re using figurative language. This allows the reader to gain new insights into your work. While there are 12 common types, the five main branches of the figurative tree include
metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism
.
What can I say instead of literally?
- actually.
- completely.
- directly.
- plainly.
- precisely.
- really.
- simply.
- truly.
How do you use literally and figuratively?
Figuratively means metaphorically, and
literally describes something that actually happened
. If you say that a guitar solo literally blew your head off, your head should not be attached to your body. They’re really, actually there.
Is figurative metaphorical?
Figurative language is the more general term.
Metaphorical can be used in exactly the same way
. A metaphor is a specific figure of speech: My love is the sun, shining brightly forever In this cheesy example, I’ve equated my love to the sun.
Are metaphors figurative?
Metaphors are
a form of figurative language
, which refers to words or expressions that mean something different from their literal definition.
What is a figurative language example?
Words or phrases are used in a non-literal way for particular effect, for example
simile
, metaphor, personification. Figurative language may also use elements of other senses, as in hearing with onomatopoeia, or in combination as in synaesthesia.
Which of the following are examples of figurative language?
- Simile. …
- Metaphor. …
- Implied metaphor. …
- Personification. …
- Hyperbole. …
- Allusion. …
- Idiom. …
- Pun.
What’s the difference between figurative language and literal?
Literal language is used to mean exactly what is written. … Figurative language is
used to mean something other than what is written, something symbolic, suggested, or implied
. For example: It was raining cats and dogs, so I rode the bus.